Four New Species of the Genus Pallisentis (Quadrigyridae, Van Cleave, 1920) from Freshwater Fish in Uttar Pradesh, India

AIMS

Four new species of genus Pallisentis (Van Cleave, in Records Indian Mus 30:147-149, 1928) are described from the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, infecting freshwater fish.

METHODS

The detailed morphology of all four species was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS

They are: Pallisentis lucknowensis n. sp. from Channa punctatus (Bloch 1785); Pallisentis amini n. sp. from Channa striatus (Bloch 1785); Pallisentis meyeri n. sp. from Channa punctatus (Bloch 1785); and Pallisentis unnaoensis n. sp. from Glossogobius giuris (Hamilton 1822).

CONCLUSION

All four Pallisentis spp. differed from other congeners because of the morphology of the proboscis hooks, size and shape of proboscis hooks, shapes, number and arrangement of trunk spine, size of cement gland, numbers of cement gland nuclei, lemnisci, size and position of testes, gonopore, etc. An updated key of genus Pallisentis of 33 species accepted as valid are provided. The present study extends the number of Pallisentis from 29 to 33 species.

Two New Species of the Genus Pallisentis Van Cleave, 1928 (Acanthocephala: Quadrigyridae) from the Intestine of Channa punctatus (Bloch, 1793) from the River Gomti at Lucknow, India

BACKGROUND

Acanthocephalans are fish parasites of worldwide distribution, penetrate their thorny proboscis into the intestinal wall of host and absorb nutrients. No diagnostic tool is available except postmortem investigations and identification by parasitologists. The aim of present study was to explore and assign taxonomical status to Pallisentis species prevalent in food fishes of river Gomti, Lucknow, India.

METHODS

A survey of fishes of river Gomti was carried out during the year 2011-2013. Acanthocephalans recovered from the intestine of Channa punctatus were kept in refrigerator for eversion of proboscis, fixed in A.F.A. fixative (50% alcohol, formalin and acetic acid in ratio of 100: 6: 2.5) for 24 hours further preserved in 70% ethanol. Camera Lucida diagrams of acetoalum carmine stained permanent mounts were made for morphometric studies.

RESULTS

Two new species of genus Pallisentis were identified and named as P. channai n. sp. and P. vinodai n. sp., their taxonomical status is based on major characters of proboscis hooks, spines of collar and trunk region, cement gland nuclei. On average 9 fishes were found infected with Pallisentis spp. out of 60 fishes examined randomly.

CONCLUSION

Pallisentis spp. are important parasitic infection in Channidae fishes with the prevalence rate of 15%. Two new species of Pallisentis recognized from Channa punctatus of river Gomti, Lucknow, India and diagnostic features of genus are given.